Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VENT, n. [Fr. vente, Sp. venta, sale, from vendre, Sp. vender; from the root of L. venio, Eng. wind, &c.; properly a passage.]

1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or other fluid to escape; as, the vent of a cask.
2. The opening in a cannon or other piece of artillery, by which fire is communicated to the charge.
3. Passage from secrecy to notice; publication. – Wotton.
4. The art of opening. – Philips.
5. Emission; passage; escape from confinement; as, his smothered passions urge for vent.
6. Discharge; utterance; means of discharge. Had like grief been dew'd in tears, / Without the vent of words. – Milton.
7. Sale; as, the vent of a thousand copies of a treatise . – Pope.
8. Opportunity to sell; demand. There is no rent for any commodity except wool . – Temple.
9. An inn; a baiting place. [Not in use.] To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth.